Once Again, Social Mores Come To Play In Spat Between SNL & Adult Swim Over Tiny Hats Sketches
from the copying-is-easy,-being-funny-is-hard dept
We've been talking a lot about how social mores can often deal with "copying" situations better than any legal claim could, and in particular have talked about it in the context of comedians, where jokes are not considered copyrightable. However, copying does have costs, especially when people call you out. Witness the "dispute" over whether or not Saturday Night Live "copied" a sketch from Adult Swim, both of which are called "Tiny Hats."Honestly, the claims of copying seem a bit overblown. While both are called "Tiny Hats" and both do involve characters wearing a tiny hat, that's about as far as the similarities go. The overall concepts beyond that are pretty different. However, apparently, it's created a big stink online, with the comedians behind the Adult Swim version "calling out" SNL. However, they don't seem to have any interest in going legal (not that they could) and later admitted that inspiration comes from all over:
He says he's not particularly angry, and thinks it could have just been coincidence, as Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, and Andy Samberg, among other "SNL" cast members, have appeared on "Adult Swim."And, indeed, that last line is the key: there are social costs if what you're doing is seen as being too close. However, I'll let you be the judge of whether or not these skits are too close (and, um, whether or not either one is actually funny):
"We understand that we've created something that a lot of people in comedy watch and like, and influences are totally fine," he says. "We draw influences from people all the time."
He goes on, "I don't want to start a big thing here. But it'll be interesting to see what the web does with this."
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: adult swim, comedy, copying, snl, social mores
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
We're sorry
Booooooooooooooooo!
Yeah, I was *that* guy.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: We're sorry
Bueno, querido no, nunca he podido ver tu contenido.
de que sirve la regionalización de contenidos en esta era de internet?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: We're sorry
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Watch me care. Those two are to comedy what Manos is to film: an utter embarassment.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Why does the U.S hate Canada?
Boooooooooooooo, eh!
Peace;)
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Awsome Show Great Job...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Adult Swim is Go
I do enjoy Children's Hospital, too.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No access no sympathy.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Can the same trope not appear in two different jokes? A priest and a rabbi? Two guys walk into a bar? Besides, as mentioned, the jokes aren't even remotely similar. One is about fashion and one-upping, the other is about... Well... Spoofing commercials?
Today I saw a poster for another movie with a spaceship in it! And heard a second song about heartbreak!
Social mores are a two-way street, and for me they backfire on Adult Swim here. My read is that Adult Swim's comedians are kind of douchey for even bringing this up.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
There's no such thing as bad PR.
Bad PR is still good advertising... so long as you don't put swastikas on everything or some such.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
@Hulu
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Both Shows Have Their Merit.
But as far as funny bits: the whole "Jim and Derek" episode was brilliant. "On top of Tom Skerrit, all covered in talent" still makes me laugh. The hacky sack battles are good for a chuckle. All the "bad" infomercials trip me out. "This is what a man sounds like when he walks" is awesome, I still hear bands covering that song. "Trick my trick," "Beaver Boys," the whole jazz singer thing... I think the show is great.
I loathe being the guy saying, "You people don't get it," but if you're watching T&E for straight-forward comedy, you're missing the point. It's supposed to be cringe-inducing and awkward. T&E have even said that none of it's supposed to be funny. It's supposed to be uncomfortable, like watching public access television. Which is funny by not being funny, or that good.
And SNL has its moments. There was a sketch last season with Dave Grohl about a dad reuniting his band at his daughter's wedding; a band that turned out to be a hardcore punk act. It was funny as hell. Maybe I like it because I'm a music geek.
As for it not being funny for the last decade: people *always* say that about the show. It was considered "awful" when Mike Meyers, Adam Sandler, and Chris Farley were on, but everyone points to those as good episodes now. Same deal when Molly Shannon and Will Ferrel were on, now people love that era. It's always been so "hip" to hate SNL. The only time it was actually unwatchable on the whole was the late 80s when the bands played on a balcony. They don't even rerun those episodes now.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
In Living Color
Maybe the Wayans brothers should get in the mix on this bullsh..?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Play in spat
[ link to this | view in chronology ]